I was born August 12, 2006, about 12 weeks early, weighing 1 lb 8 oz. I was hospitalized for 514 days, 6 months in NICU and 11 months in PICU, and I finally got to go home for the first time on January 7th, 2008. I've been working really hard to grow my lungs bigger and stronger so I can eventually get off my ventilator and do all the things other kids do. I'm pretty tough but my smile will charm you.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Kiera still sensitive to unison sound...

So I took Kiera to my friend's son's 2nd birthday party yesterday. In addition to her skipping her nap, she was pretty anti-social. She much preferred to read her book and play by herself in the playhouse. I took her in the house for story and game time with the hired clown. She was fine for a bit, but the clown started a game with balls on a blanket where every kid grabs a corner of the blanket and they raise and lower it to make the balls go everywhere. Kiera seemed to like this till everyone starting saying, "Whooo..." in unison. Then she freaked out and was crying, so rather than torture her, I took her back outside for time in the playhouse.

She did make some headway in the TASTING department. She decided to taste each and every rock in the landscaping around the playhouse. hmmm.... She also took several sips of water from a water bottle with a twist spout. (apparently available at Target). We'll have to try that for feeding therapy. Maybe we have had a breakthrough. Rocks and Water. She was also quite happy to sit diaper butt and bare legged on the rocks; however, she flipped out when I sat her on the grass and did kind of a v-sit to keep her legs off the grass, much like one would do at the beach on hot sand. Kiera was pretty tired having avoided her scheduled nap, so she lay down on a blanket for a while.

Then when it came time to sing Happy Birthday (outside) Kiera started crying again at the unison noise. Poor thing couldn't catch a break. This sensory sensitivity is really a big pain in the butt. I think the most fun she had was with the helium balloon and the rock licking. She played catch with the balloon with Daddy when we got home, and really enjoyed it till she suddenly realized she was exhausted and crashed on my lap.

Kiera's peek-a-boo game

Kiera's First Love, July 2007

About Me

I was born on August 12, 2006, after an emergency C-Section. I was about 12 weeks premature. 1 lb. 8 oz., a little underweight for a 28-weeker. Mostly, aside from my Chronic Lung disease from the early delivery, and having to live with a trachiostomy and a respirator, and beating my Pulminary Hypertension and thickening of my heart walls, all-in-all I am doing fine.

bornalivetruth.org

Kiera's NICU Days

I didn't start the blog till Kiera was 6 months old and in danger of dying; so here are some early days pics for those who didn't know her when she was so small.

Mommy's first chance to hold Kiera on day 2, just over the heated bed.

First Kangaroo Cuddle at 5 days old, 1 lb 6oz, she lost a little weight like all babies after birth.

2 lb princess

Take Daddy's hand

Mommy gives Kiera a sponge bath, weight about 3 lbs

In the 3 lb range, the blanket is a security blanket or burp cloth size, folded in half. When I got it as a gift before she was born, I thought, "What a ridiculously small blanket!" It ended up being just perfect for her.